4 Ways to Keep Your Kids from Being Afraid of the Dentist.

Interesting article from a Boston Pedodontic Office regarding Childrens detnal fear.

We’re often afraid of what we don’t know, which is one reason why it is so important to introduce your child to dentistry and good oral health habits as early as possible. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that your child’s first dental visit occur when the first tooth appears or by his or her first birthday at the latest. Choosing the right dentist for your child at this crucial stage of development is essential for ensuring a positive relationship with dentistry and a lifetime of healthy smiles.





We asked the experts at Cambridge Pediatric Dental Associates for some tips for parents to help children become comfortable with dental visits and develop confident attitudes toward their dental health. Here are a few tips to help make your child’s dental experiences happy ones.


Find the right "dental home" for you and your child.


Dr. George McEachern, CPDA’s founder, suggests focusing on finding a long-term "dental home" for your child—a practice your child can grow up with. Children are less fearful of people and places they have become familiar with.


So, for you, it’s all about partnering with a team you trust, and for your child it’s about finding a place they’ll feel safe and comfortable going to for years to come.


Dr. McEachern highly suggests selecting a pediatric dentist. Pediatric dental specialists have had two additional years of training and are staffed with team members dedicated to the unique needs associated with children’s dental care. Many have also studied child psychology, which helps them communicate and interact with their patients in ways that foster relationships and make visits enjoyable for children, rather than scary.


Additionally, pediatric dental offices are generally designed with children’s comfort in mind. Look for waiting rooms that are colorful, engaging, and stocked with toys, stuffed animals, books, and doodle boards to entertain children. This way, the dentist becomes a place children look forward to visiting.


Ask about what happens during early visits and explain it to your child.


First visits to the dentist are more introductory in nature and geared to provide positive experiences. Early exams usually just involve simple demonstrations of things like tooth brushing—something kids are already used to doing at home. Through these interactions, the dentist determines what the young patient is most comfortable with and slowly introduces additional procedures such as cleanings and full exams.




Kids seem to learn better from the show-and-tell technique that many pediatric dentists employ. Dr. Fatima Aziz, a former patient at CPDA, is now a dental associate at the practice. Before an initial exam, she puts her young patients at ease by showing them pictures and explaining what to expect. She demonstrates on Dentoform® stuffed animals and teaches about dental instruments by using friendly names such as the Tooth Tickler, Mister Thirsty and Bubble Maker. Everything is focused on making the experience entertaining and informative. At her office, kids can even test the instruments on balloons made from dental gloves to show them there’s nothing to be afraid of.






Dr. Aziz says she fondly remembers choosing a "prize" after her visits to the dentist as a child, and she offers her patients the same opportunity. She knows how picking out a special sticker or trinket or getting a new toothbrush can make visiting the dentist fun for kids. Plus, the positive reinforcement helps children create positive memories of their early dental visits.


Learn tips and tricks to use at home.


Pediatric dentists and hygienists are a fantastic source of information about children’s oral healthcare. Remember that you and your pediatric dental team are a partnership with the primary goal of keeping your child healthy, so don’t be afraid to ask for guidance! They can suggest products, show you how much toothpaste to use, and give advice on helping your child enjoy brushing and stay engaged in their oral health care at home.


They can also offer dietary counseling and guidance that can benefit your child’s overall oral and systemic health, such as which snacks are more cavity causing than others and when (and how) to start breaking habits like thumb-sucking and the use of pacifiers. Staying involved and establishing good oral health practices at home will result in better visits to the dentist, which benefit everyone.


Know what emergency oral care is available in your child’s dental home.




As many parents of toddlers soon discover, these new movers and shakers are especially prone to tumbles and injuries as they master gross motor skills. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists, many of these injuries affect the mouth. To be prepared, it is important to consider what type of emergency oral care is available through the pediatric dentist you choose. Some offices, including CPDA, have an on-call doctor available via telephone after hours—since kids and accidents aren’t on an office schedule!






It’s never too early to begin reinforcing positive oral health care habits with your child. Good pediatric dental care can result in a positive attitude about going to the dentist and, subsequently, a lifetime of healthy smiles!


This post is a sponsored collaboration between Cambridge Pediatric Dental Associates and Boston magazine's advertising department.

Ancient Teeth Had Cavities

Ancient Teeth Had Cavities

Cavities

A recent study on an old tooth shed some new light on the history of human hygiene.
Scientists say that a 14,000-year-old infected molar revealed the practice of dentistry is thousands of years older than previously thought.

The tooth is part of a preserved skeleton of a 25-year-old man found in Northern Italy in 1988. Scientists determined he lived about 14,000 years ago — during the Upper Paleolithic Age or the late Stone Age.

According to recent analysis, the ancient tooth showed signs of having been cleaned with flint tools. The findings suggest that someone tried to dig out the rotten part of the tooth with stone.

So yes, even cavemen had cavities — and they also went through painful procedures to get rid of them.

Dr. Neal answers all of your questions about Cavities

 at Crystal Lake Dental Associates.

Your comments are welcome

Erosion, Acid Reflux,GERD, Bulemia (Eating Disorders), and Your Teeth

Healthy Teeth

Cavity (Tooth Decay or Caries)

Acid Erosion

What does tooth decay and acid erosion look like?

Erosion, Acid Reflux (GERD), Bulemia (Eating Disorders), and Your Teeth

Enamel is generally a semi-opaque off-white color, and slightly rough when it first comes into the mouth. Acid from bacterial plaque can cause white and brown/black spots to show up on the teeth.Erosion makes the enamel quite shinny and smooth.As time goes on the teeth become more yellow due the loss of this semi opaque layer exposing the dentine underneath which is yellow/orange.Once the dentin layer is exposed, the loss of tooth surface accelerates because the dentin layer is much softer that enamel.

What does acid do to teeth?

Your enamel (the hard white outer layer) on your teeth is comprised primarily of Calcium and Phosphorous, These elements are actually considered metals. Metals are susceptible to dissolving by acid. 

Where does this Acid come from?

Foods and drinks can contain acid. Acetic acid in vinegar, phosphoric acid in soda drinks, and citric acid in many fruits are the most common sources. Another source are stomach acid. Bacteria in your mouth break down sugars and starches in our foods to create lactic acid.

How common is Tooth Decay?

Tooth decay is the most common common communicable disease on earth, the bacteria is passed from family members to infants shortly after birth. These bacteria continue to inhabit the mouth and stick to teeth in a film called plaque. Bacteria from family members can be different strains from one person to another. Depending on the strains of bacteria one is infected with  the person can be more or less prone to acid formation.The more sugary and starchy foods a person consumes, the more acid that these bacteria can produce. Essentially the longer sugars and starches remain in the mouth, the more acid is produced. 

How Common is Tooth Damage from Acidic Foods?

This varies by how one eats and drinks acidic foods. People who drink a lot of acidic foods like orange juice and grapefruit juice  and soda may experience erosion over time. Another factor is how a person drinks these substances. If someone uses a straw and swallows quickly, the acid effect will be minimal to none. However, if a person swishes the liquid in the mouth, there is more acid in contact with the teeth and there will me more erosion.

How common is Acid Reflux (GERD)?

Acid Reflux is becoming more and more common as people age. For some reason as we get older, our bodies can overproduce too much acid and the natural valve in our throat can become less efficient allowing this excess acid to back up into the throat and mouth when laying down. In addition, the population is becoming more obese. Obese people have more weight on thir airway when laying down and larger tongues and other tissues in the back of the throat. The combination leads to airway obstruction and poor breathing at night. When someone is laying down and having difficulty getting air in to breath, they begin to choke and literally suck acidic stomach fluid into their throat and mouth. this acidic condition will  erode(dissolve) the teeth.

How common is Bulemia (Eating Disorder)?

this condition is more common than we can determine. It has two  forms. One is a physiologic form that has to do with tough and biology. We all know that many women will have morning sickness which leads to bouts of vomiting, Other people are what we call gaggers, or prople with very sensitive digestive systems. These people often have difficulty keeping food down and will often vomit after eating, or an incident that triggers an episode of gagging. The other form is a psychological form of vomiting related to self image and some form or exaggerated need to lose weight or keep weight off. Bulemia really became common after the popularity of very slender models who gained tremendous  exposure in the media (ie. Twiggy in the late 60's).  This form is usually seen in women and teenagers dealing with some trauma, or depressive incidents in the past. Sadly, rarely will these individuals admit to the act of forced vomiting and they do everything possible to hide their actions. When confronted with the suspicion of it, they can withdraw and become rather argumentative in denial until they are "ready for help"'.

What other factors can influence Acid Erosion?

Other factors that can effect acid erosion include, lower saliva flow, para functional habits and, oral hygiene, As we age, our saliva flow is reduced and this saliva is an acid buffer for the foods and drink, In addition there are thousands of medications that reduce salive flow when taken which again reduces the buffering capacity. Parafunctional habits like tooth clenching and grinding have an added effect of crushing the teeth that are already softened by acid attack. Poor oral hygiene will leave the acids from bacterial plaque on the teeth longer. Not using a fluoride rinse or toothpaste or having regular fluoride treatments by a dentist will also keep the teeth more prone to all forms of acid attack as fluoride hardens the enamel.

In Conclusion

When teeth first come into the mouth, they have a certain amount of enamel that will only decrease over time from wear and acid attack. Your dentist can advise you if any of these forms or acid attack are occuring. Intervention through testing, diet modification, habit changes, medications, and certain preventive hygiene procedures are all methods to ensure that your teeth stay bright, and strong thorough your lifetime. See your dentist regularly and follow the advice given.

Dr. Neal answers all of your questions about Erosion, Acid Reflux (GERD), Bulemia (Eating Disorders), and Your Teeth

 at Crystal Lake Dental Associates.

Your comments are welcome

Primary Teeth, (Baby Teeth) are Important!

Why are Primary Teeth Important?

                           

Primary teeth serve as the bridge between no teeth and a full set of perminant teeth. Immediately after birth, an infant begins getting nutrition through nursing using a suckling technique, the muscles are not mature yet and the throat has not develop te completely. This suckling/swallowing method works well while muscles and structures develop and mature. At about 6 months, teeth begin erupting into the tiny jaws and the stronger muscles can begin processing bits of food. As the child continues to grow till about age two, the remaining primary teeth erupt into space. The tongue and jaws are growing stronger and larger and the child can now chew food efficiently and swallow it. The pri,are teeth will continue to work until they begin to be replaced by their perminant teeth at about age six. A child's ability to comfortably and efficiently eat, and speak, as well as feel socially acceptable are enhanced by a healthy complete set of primary teeth.

They Are Just Baby Teeth, Why The big Deal?

The primary teeth play a role in many areas of proper growth and development and need to be taken care of  for several reasons listed below:

• They help a child get maximum nutrition by chewing the food prior to swallowing
• Cavities (tooth decay, or caries)  can lead to painful and dangerous abscesses
• Premature loss of teeth can be disfiguring and lead to social issues for children
• Primary teeth are placeholders for the permanent teeth infections or early loss can lead to developmental problems and need for braces  and surgery later
• Proper hygiene and regular dental visits early in life leads to better life habits
• Painful
  
  
  emergency visits due to dental problems not addressed early lead many people to become dental phobics as adults with significant  fears and avoidance behaviors which can be devastating physically, socially, and emotionally.
• Speech patterns can be unaddressed affected by dental problems in children.

What Should Parents Do?

Parents should take their child to visit the dentist as soon as the first tooth arrives or by the child's first birthday. The child and parent can then establish a positives and healthy relationship very early on. In addition the dentist can help the parent develop goot diet and hygiene practices right away. Early visits allow the dentist to be alert for any growth and development issues early.

Dr. Neal answers all of your questions about Sealants at Crystal Lake Dental Associates.

Your comments are welcome

Sealants... They are not just for Children

Sealants are not just for Children?

Sealant

What are sealants and why are they used?

Permanent teeth are prone to form cavities, (tooth decay or  caries). In these permanent teeth the most common place that this cavity forms in in the pits and grooves on the top and sides of the teeth where you brush. It is estimated that up to 75 percent of the teeth with these pits and grooves will form a cavity in your lifetime. Sealants are a thin coating of special plastic placed in the grooves of teeth. These grooves are the main area where tooth decay starts. If a sealant is well placed, it can last for many years providing protection for your teeth. Traditionally sealants are placed on the permanent  back teeth on children soon after they come into the mouth.

Are Sealants covered by Insurance?

Insurance companies will usually pay for sealants placed on the molars (the larger back teeth) until a certain age is reached. Many insurance companies will not pay for sealants on bicuspids (the smaller back teeth in front of the molars).

 Insurance companies, like any other business, set policy based on their own sets of rules These rules are provided to be competitive in the healthcare marketplace, give basic benefits, and contain costs, Benefit packages are tailored to the purchaser's (usually an employer).budget. Then insurance companies  contract with providers (dentists) and essentially dictate which services they will cover and how much the dentist can charge for the service.

Should Sealants be Placed on Teeth that Insurance does not Cover?

Yes, though the decay rate for some teeth is a little lower statistically, they are likely to develop a cavity in your lifetime. Our goal is to help patients get healthy and stay healthy. One of the ways we can do that is to seal up ALL teeth with grooves and pits. We recommend sealants on molars and bicuspids for all children and adults.

Dr. Neal answers all of your questions aboutSealants at Crystal Lake Dental Associates.

Your comments are welcome

Phillip C. Neal DDS

Crystal Lake Dental Associates

280 B Memorial Court

Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014

drneal.com

Braces, Orthodontics, Straight Teeth, Why? Crystal Lake Dentist

Why do so many people have crooked teeth?

 

straight teeth look great

Our ancient ancestors faced a different set of conditions which helped fit the size of their jaws to the size of the teeth. The reason is due to their diet. They did not have the luxury of highly processed vitamin and calorie enriched foods. Infants had to subsist on mother's milk instead of processed infant formulas with high calories and vitamin content. Children and adults also had to subsist on lower calorie harder foods that took much more effort to chew and extract nutrients. The result was that the jaws grew larger and the teeth would fit together perfectly. The result of our modern diet  and child rearing behavior is that children's jaws will not grow to their full potential... thus the teeth do not have room to fit into the smaller jaws and become crowded. Consequently 80% of the population raised on a modern highly processed, high calorie, and vitamin enriched diet will have crooked teeth.

OK so we will have crooked teeth, what is the big deal?

The big deal is twofold:

·        First as our jaws do not develop completely and mid face is pushed back. This smaller space means our airway does not develop fully. This can lead to many issues related to Sleep Apnea, enlarged tonsils, allergies, ear infections, and a multitude of related conditions including ADHD in a child. As the child becomes order Sleep Apnea can bring on many other serious conditions as well including heart disease, diabetes, stroke obesity, daytime drowsiness and other systemic inflammatory conditions.

·         Second is the problem that crooked teeth inherently affects to the longevity of the teeth. Crooked teeth will wear unevenly, lead to more tooth decay and periodontal disease, premature loss of teeth and extensive dental treatment like gum surgery, fillings crowns root canals, extractions, etc. These treatments are expensive, time consuming and possibly uncomfortable. Add to that the cost of medical treatment and the possibility of shortening of a person's life, and you quickly see that it is a big deal. 

OK so what are you recommending that we eat like our ancestors?

cave men ate raw foods

Well that would do the job, though it would be hard to do today. Instead I am recommending children be evaluated very early to get their growth on track before the adult teeth are in. Interceptive orthodontics can alter growth with easy to use removable appliances. The teeth and jaws can be aligned and growth encouraged so often no further orthodontic care is needed, or if it is needed, it will be minimal. The health benefits of interceptive orthodontics cannot be over emphasized. The other benefit may be that the full cost of treatment is lower.

interceptive orthodontic appliances

interceptive orthodontics

Can Adults as well can benefit from straighter teeth?

Absolutely they can. Teeth wearing excessively, gums receding, gum disease, and chipping, breaking cavities are all increased with crooked teeth. When the teeth are aligned well they will wear evenly, look better and stay healthier. The gum tissue will be healthier as the teeth are easier to clean which also means less cavities. Why would you not want to have this?

What other benefits would I have from straight teeth?

The most obvious one is a beautiful smile, and a better self-image. Your smile is one of your most important assets.

Many people don't want that "Braces Look", what are the options?

Invisalign

Invisalign has come a long way and continues to develop as the people's choice for orthodontics for adults and increasingly for teens. The clear aligners are easy to wear and the teeth are easy to clean. Clear braces and tooth colored orthodontic wires can also be used in some cases as well.

clear braces

Where can I find out more about interceptive orthodontics and adult braces?

beautiful healthy smiles for the entire family

We can help you determine the best choice for each and every family member. We have been treating adults and children for over 30 years. Most orthodontic offices wait until a child becomes a teenager where 90% of the growth has already taken place and the treatment options are limited. We recommend treating as early as possible to take advantage of the growth.

Dr. Neal answers all of your questions about Lifetime Dentistry, braces, Invisalign and interceptive orthodontics and root Canal Treatment at Crystal Lake Dental Associates.

Your comments are welcome

Phillip C. Neal DDS

Crystal Lake Dental Associates

280 B Memorial Court

Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014

drneal.com

Do Root Canals Cause Cancer?-Crysral Lake Dentist

A little history lesson please!!!

Root Canal Treatment Goes Back Thousands of Years.

There are historical instances of all manner of objects and materials being placed in the root canal space of teeth including bird droppings as a means of treating teeth. Studies and published articles go back over three hundred years demonstrating various techniques and materials to treat infected teeth. The various theories of what is being done and why are all over the place. The good news from this is that even though these practices have been discontinued, over time a common sense approach,  improved methods, and materials has led to a very consistent high success rate for root canal treatment.

Modern Root Canal treatment Begins in the Last Half of the 20th Century.

The modern ideas for root canal treatment began in the 1950's with the use of certain irrigating techniques and standardized instruments and materials. Root canal treatment has continued to evolve with advances in technology and materials so that today root canals (endodontic treatments) are highly predictable and successful when all of the necessary steps are followed. Importantly the placing of a well-fitting crown and buildup are part of a properly completed root canal treatment.

What Does This Have to do with Cancer and Other Diseases?

In the early 1900's the "focal infection" theory was developed. This theory stated that essentially a tiny localized infection would cause inflammation and disease in other body organs and systems. In addition the bacteria causing the localized infection would quickly morph into other bacteria which were much more dangerous. These more dangerous bacteria and byproducts would travel freely through the body seeking organs and body systems to damage or destroy. So some claimed that this "focal infection" was leading to cancer. Once this localized infection was removed, the other body organs and systems would recover.  This focal infection theory was popular for about 25 years and led to the amputation of many body parts. This focal infection theory stated that since teeth that were infected had previously been successfully treated with root canals were still considered infected. Consequently, the idea was advanced that all of these teeth needed to be removed. In the 1920's, studies were done by a dentist "Dr. Weston Price". He showed that these infected teeth could kill lab rabbits quickly. He also attempted to document how by removing these teeth, many people who were previously suffering from all sorts of ailments were instantly cured. For the next 25 years, this theory and Dr. Price's reports led to the removal of countless teeth. 

What Have We Learned Since Then about "Focal Infections"?

The studies by Dr. Price were and others were flawed and had no valid controls. In addition, published studies since then have failed to produce or reproduce the same effect claimed be Dr. Price. The subsequent study of abscesses, bacteremia, and blood testing of individuals find that the bacteria found in these lesions show that bacteria from the mouth play almost no role in infections in other parts of the body. We now know that bacteria do not evolve/mutate at any rate close to what Dr. Price was showing. Dr. Price had several accomplishments that did advance dentistry, however his lab experiments and claims about focal infections have placed a dark cloud over his accomplishments. 

Our Immune System is More Than Capable of Handling Oral Bacteria!

The human race would not exist if it could not handle the bacteria from the mouth. The human immune system is dealing with bacteria from the oral cavity constantly from accidental lip, cheek, tongue biting, injuries, from hard foods, flossing/tooth-brushing, dental cleanings, etc. These injuries would have killed off the host shortly after birth if the immune system could not deal with the bacteria.

Why do claims like these about dentistry circulate?

There are several reasons:

• Many in the Holistic community truly believe some of the claims that are made without any good science to back it up.  They refuse to seek out properly performed scientific tests for evidence for their beliefs.
• Many people love a good conspiracy theory as well and think that large companies and organizations are covering up the truth. 
• Many of these Holistic companies stand to make a lot of money and many are unscrupulously making false claims to do so just like the "Snake Oil Salesmen" traveling the country would do in the past.
• Many people are desperate for simple low cost alternatives to proper health care.
• Wives’ Tales and folklore abound with home brews and anecdotal miraculous recovery from illnesses that are often a coincidence.
•  

Why Root Canals have a Bad Reputation in general?

Face it you don't just walk into your dentist's office and say hey doctor, I was just passing by and thought I would like to have a root canal treatment just for fun. Root canals and severe pain are linked in the media and society.  OK let’s dissect the reason. Many people who seek a dentist for a painful tooth have waited too long to have the tooth treated hoping the "pain would go away". Well it did not and now the tooth needs to either be removed or treated with a root canal.

So what causes the pain people associate with root canals?

 I will use another body part to explain the inflammation/infection process. If you injured your thumb by either getting an infected splinter in it or hitting it with a hammer, it would do several things at once. It would swell, turn red, and get hot. That is the way the body reacts to injury and infection. In this same way the pulp and periodontal ligament will react to inflammation and infection. Teeth are embedded in bone and the nerve (pulp) is consequently not able to expand when inflamed or infected. When a tissue tries to swell and cannot, the pain level increases dramatically. "Hot" abscessed teeth are much more difficult to numb and take longer for the anesthetic to work. That is just the nature of inflammation and infection anywhere in the body. If the tooth is removed, the pain will subside, but the area will still be sore because part of the body has been amputated. It is the same with a root canal treatment. The pain will improve but it may take some time for the body to recover from the toxic products of an abscessed tooth. Today we have better anesthetics, and better treatment methods as well as better antibiotics and pain relievers to prescribe. It is not the root canal treatment that is the reason people have any pain, but the waiting too long to seek treatment that is causing it. 

Common sense is needed!

The bacterial onslaught from periodontal disease is a much greater danger to a person's health than a tooth with a root canal in it. The modern root canal treatment  with the use of antibiotics, antiseptic rinses, electronic apex locators, magnification, digital x-rays, ultrasonics, rotary nickel titanium instrumentation, high tech  heated Gutta Percha have made it easier, faster and better. The judicious use of antibiotics, better anesthetics, conscious sedation, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), and modern pain relievers have made every procedure in dentistry extremely predictable and more comfortable.

The Truth is Obvious, We Just Need to Face It!

Root canal treatment is one of the most successful procedures a dentist can provide. The cost of replacing a tooth is greater than the cost of the root canal and crown. Patients can avoid unnecessary pain and enjoy the benefits of teeth saved by root canals by seeking professional care as soon as possible rather than waiting till the problem is so serious. Many root canal treatments can be avoided altogether by getting regular dental care and checkups to catch a problem early and treat it with a minor procedure.

Dr. Neal answers all of your questions about Lifetime Dentistry and root Canal Treatment at Crystal Lake Dental Associates.

Your comments are welcome

Phillip C. Neal DDS

Crystal Lake Dental Associates

280 B Memorial Court

Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014

drneal.com